Debut of Cutting-Edge Smart Sports and Digital Health Technologies by ITRI in 2024

By Brian K. Neal
In a significant development, the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), Taiwan’s foremost and globally renowned high-tech applied research institution, has unveiled groundbreaking advancements in the realms of smart sports and digital health.

Set to make its debut in 2024, iGolfPutter emerges as a pioneering smart sports technology tailored for indoor golf training. This cutting-edge system provides a lifelike simulation of an outdoor golf course, incorporating advanced AI skeletal and putt analysis. Leveraging ITRI’s state-of-the-art 3D sensing AI analysis technology, iGolfPutter captures intricate details such as the player’s posture, stance, and swing. The amalgamation of this skeletal data with embedded sensor information from the putter and golf ball facilitates a comprehensive simulation, analysis, visualization, and educational experience.

An immersive golf course simulation further enhances the iGolfPutter experience, with an AIoT dynamic green offering a tactile sensation akin to standing on an actual golf green. Concurrently, the display offers a captivating view of the corresponding golf course. Notably, iGolfPutter enables real-time remote competitions, allowing multiple players to engage in virtual and physical settings simultaneously. For instance, some players can play on an actual golf course, while others, using iGolfPutter, join the game virtually from any location, simulating the same course.

The showcase of smart sports and digital health technologies extends beyond iGolfPutter, featuring iSwimWeaR—an innovative personal device designed to monitor physiological vitals in underwater environments. This device seamlessly integrates with diving masks and swimming goggles, utilizing low-power microwave sensing technology. Coupled with a user-friendly smartphone app, iSwimWeaR provides real-time tracking and display of underwater vitals, including heartbeat, breathing rate, and activity levels, with an impressive 95% accuracy rate.

Distinguishing itself from existing waterproof wearable devices that transmit data only when out of the water, iSwimWeaR stands out by tracking and monitoring diver or swimmer vitals in real time while submerged. The device proves its worth in safety by promptly sending visual alerts to the diver or swimmer, as well as colleagues, in the event of a significant drop in heartbeat or breathing rate.

Moreover, iSwimWeaR incorporates ITRI’s swimming posture analysis technology, offering potential applications in professional training. Through an in-depth analysis of stroke frequency, stroke width, oblique angles, speed, and efficiency, the device provides valuable recommendations for posture adjustments and training evaluations. This application enhances safety in beginner swimming lessons and elevates the overall training experience for athletes.

Completing this array of innovations is Mountain Watch, an outdoor safety system designed to prevent hikers from getting lost or separated from their group. This comprehensive system, comprising a smartphone app and a mesh network device, proves particularly invaluable in mountainous areas with weak or no mobile phone signals.

Leveraging ITRI’s mesh network technology, Mountain Watch features low power consumption, an extended communication range, and three-dimensional multipoint signal communication capabilities. These attributes allow the devices to act as relay stations for each other through long-distance transmission. The system includes an emergency feature that promptly sends distress signals to nearby hikers, and users can also plan routes, navigate, and stay connected with family and friends through Mountain Watch.